The time has come for Joe Benigno to say goodbye – but before he began his final show on WFAN with Evan Roberts, he reverted back to Joe from Saddle River one last time as a “guest” on Moose & Maggie.
And even after a week-plus to think about 25 years at WFAN, there’s no way to sum it up.
“I don’t know if I can pin one moment down (as the best), because there’s been so much…Evan and I did so much great stuff, and the overnight years were phenomenal,” Joe told Moose & Maggie. “I think just the fact that I was able to do this for 25 years. Where has the time gone, and why didn’t I stop at some point and realize what was happening? How is it over now?”
It’s all over, and Joe was never even sure it would go beyond the wee hours.
“I did overnights for nine years, and never thought I was leaving the overnights,” Joe said. “There were times I never thought I’d see the light of day doing this. It’s crazy to think about it.”
Maggie thought Joe might cry today, but no tears for the day, or his golf game…just for his city.
“It’s been unbelievable, but I’m ready to go. DONE!” Joe laughed. “There is some sadness, but it’s because I don’t know if I’ll ever see New York City again; after today, I never have any intentions of coming back to NYC. Maybe if the Mets win the World Series, we’ll see – but it’s more emotions that I love this city, but it’s not what it once was. A little melancholy with that.”
Moose then waxed poetic about how the first overnight show he ever produced was with Joe – a story he told in his initial farewell to Joe last week – and asked Joe about the first time he ever got recognized, or what it’s like when someone does.
And in true Joe fashion…he says still the everyman he always was.
“Once I started doing all the TV stuff, it got a little more,” Joe said, “but I don’t think of myself as (a star); I think of myself as this guy, who is just like everybody else.”
You’ll always be our bro, Joe from Saddle River. All the love, Joe.
Follow WFAN's midday team on Twitter: @MandMWFAN, @MarcMalusis, @MaggieGray, and @BMonzoRadio
Follow WFAN on Social Media
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | Twitch